So, your garage door is hard to operate because it is sticking in some sections. This is a normal problem for old garage doors, and it is quite easy to fix sticking garage doors. But you need to be aware that as your garage door ages, it will really show some of the signs of aging, especially if you don’t have any regular schedule of preventive maintenance. Another problem with garage doors is that their parts change as the seasons change. Some parts expand due to heat and some parts contract because of exposure to cold temperatures. There are many conditions why garage door stick and cause difficulty in operation. Here are some simple ways you can fix a sticking garage door.

Assess the problem

If you find that your garage door is sluggish and sticking in some sections, you don’t need to have it repaired or overhauled right away. The first thing you need to do is to inspect the door along the sections where it is sticking. That means you need to check the tracks if there are any object that makes it difficult to open or close. Once you have inspected the door and determined the real cause of the problem, you can now decide on the best way to solve it.

Lubricate

The most common cause of a sticking garage door is the fact that the track and the rollers are not lubricated. These garage door parts are commonly made of steel and hard materials. If they are not lubricated regularly, they tend to resist any action or movement that is forced on them. Thus, you will experience movement resistance here and there. The best way to correct this problem is to lubricate the tracks and the rollers of your garage door. You need to do this on a regular basis if you don’t want to experience the same problem again and again. After a week or so, check if the lubricant is getting dry. If it does, spray or apply another coat of lubricant to keep the whole assembly stick-free.

Override the automatic system

You can also override the system that automatically shuts and opens the garage door to check the real cause of the problem. Just pull the cord, the one with the red handle, which usually hangs from the guide track of the door. When you pull this cord, you will be able to shut and open the door manually. If the door moves without any resistance, this could mean the problem lies with the electric motor. If you still have the garage door manual, read it for instructions on how to correct this problem. But if you can’t find the solution by reading the manual, it is time for you to call the installer or manufacturer or any garage door professional to repair the problem.

Inspect the track

Inspect the track for bumps or dents or any condition that may cause the sticking problem. If the track is bent, get a piece of hard wood with straight surface and hit it with a hammer against the bent section of the track. Don’t hit the track directly with the hammer or you might cause more damage. If the track is straightened out, the roller should have no more problems in going through the track.

Check the sensitivity settings

If your garage door is automatic, you need to check its sensitivity settings. Try different settings and see which one of them will make the sticking problem go away. When the sensitivity of an automatic garage door is set very high, sticking problem usually occurs. So, try not to set the setting of your automatic garage door too high.

Check the alignment of the garage door track

You need to check the door track alignment if you are experiencing sticking problems. Use a level, a tool used by builders and carpenters, to check if the door track is perfectly aligned and leveled. If there are sections of the track that are misaligned, loosen their screws or bolts with a screwdriver, or with an adjustable wrench, or whatever tool is applicable. Then use a hammer to tap the misaligned sections back to where they need to be. After ensuring that the section is aligned, tighten the screws or bolts.

Schedule regular maintenance

Checking the garage door’s tracks, rollers and automatic system regularly will help you avoid sticking problems in the future.

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Door Doctor Inc.

As a garage door company Door Doctor was founded in 1988 in the Greater Toronto area. Located close to Markham we have since expanded our services to include two additional locations; one in Barrie, serving the Simcoe area, and the other in Oshawa, servicing the Durham area.